I HAVE wanted to write for many months to challenge what could be called greenbelt bullies.

They write constantly to complain about the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF) and what they mistakenly perceive to be the intention of Bury Council to build all over the greenbelt in the borough.

The law as it currently stands states that greenbelt land is protected from development, therefore Bury Council cannot be the only council in the country exempt from planning legislation as it is at present.

If the proposals for GMSF are against the rules or unlawful, the Government could stop them now.

However, it is the government that is allowing this process to take place in order to build more houses. There is no problem with that.

There are no plans to build on greenbelt in Hollins Village, Affetside, Ramsbottom, Ainsworth Village or Holcombe Brook, or on the vast majority of other greenbelt in the borough.

By seeking to change the present proposals these campaigners are putting at risk the greenbelt in these areas.

They talk about representing the people of Bury when, in reality, they represent only their own interests.

They complain about insufficient infrastructure to cope with new homes — schools, GP practices, etc, and an increase in road traffic, but these situations arise whenever and wherever new housing is planned whether on greenbelt or brownfield sites.

These protesters quote that there will be a loss of 20 per cent of the greenbelt in Bury but those who know the borough will be aware that almost 75 per cent of this particular greenbelt is just one site that has a motorway running through it.

Other parts of the site include an active tip and a capped off former tip. This is not open farmland with livestock grazing, it is land cut off from Bury by the M66.

It is surely more sensible to develop this land for housing or employment than some of the precious greenbelt land in the other 80 per cent that will be safe for another 35 years.

When these protest groups talk about protecting the greenbelt, what they really mean is protecting the greenbelt next to their homes, no one else’s. While we can have some sympathy for the campaigners, they do not have the right to jeopardise the futures of the proud villages of the borough to protect their own interests. It is NYMBYISM at its worst.

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